Vallejo police shoot, kill suspect who displayed pellet gun

A 53-year-old Vallejo man was shot to death late Thursday night after allegedly pulling a replica handgun on police officers after they ordered him to drop it, officials said Friday.

Lt. Ken Weaver said that the man, who was known to police for drug and alcohol violations, was shot multiple times in the torso on a downtown street after refusing to drop a weapon.

Police said the handgun later was determined to be a pellet gun, a Beretta Cougar replica, that is the exact size, shape and weight as the real Cougar.

Weaver said the incident began shortly before midnight Thursday when the two officers responded to a report of a man with a gun in the 2000 block of Sonoma Boulevard.

Apparently, the suspect had taken a cab and paid the driver, Lt. Lee Horton said. After he got out of the cab, he allegedly pointed a handgun at the driver and a passenger in the front seat, Horton added. The cab driver took off and the suspect allegedly then pointed the gun at a woman walking down the street, Horton said. Meanwhile, the cab driver called police to report the incident.

The cab driver told the officers that a white male adult wearing a long black jacket had pointed a handgun at him, but had not robbed him. When officers arrived, the caller pointed to the suspect who was walking briskly away toward Capitol Street in downtown Vallejo, Weaver said.

The officers followed him in their car and when they got closer to him, got out of their car and repeatedly ordered him to stop, Weaver said.

Instead of stopping, Weaver said the officers saw that the man kept looking over his shoulder as he was walking away, and reached into his pocket, arming himself with a weapon.

Weaver said they ordered the man to drop the gun, but Weaver said the suspect continued to turn toward them. Fearing for their safety, both officers fired their service weapons at him, Weaver added.

Horton said the replica gun reportedly fell out of the man's hand as he dropped to the ground after he was shot.

"These guns are dangerous. They look like a real firearm. It's not a call you can make in a split second," Horton said.

Officers were equipped with Tasers, but they were not deployed because officers believed the gun the man held was real, and not a BB gun or pellet gun, Horton said.

The man died shortly afterward and was pronounced dead at the scene, Weaver said. His identity has not been released pending notification of family, but Weaver said the man had a criminal history involving drugs and alcohol. He provided no details.

Weaver said the man had not fired his weapon, and neither officer was injured in the incident.

The two veteran officers are on three days of paid administrative leave, and the case is under investigation, Weaver said.

Under the California Penal Code it is unlawful for a person to display or expose any imitation firearm in public. The first offense can garner a fine of up to $100.